U.S. patent number 10,260,455 [Application Number 15/301,919] was granted by the patent office on 2019-04-16 for module with pre-oriented camshaft.
This patent grant is currently assigned to THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA TECCENTER AG. The grantee listed for this patent is ThyssenKrupp Presta TecCenter AG. Invention is credited to Ulrich Schatton, Heiko Schmid, Hans Jurgen Schmidt.
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United States Patent |
10,260,455 |
Schmid , et al. |
April 16, 2019 |
Module with pre-oriented camshaft
Abstract
A module may include a receiving element in the form of a
bearing frame or a covering hood for arrangement on a cylinder head
of an internal combustion engine. The module may further include a
camshaft that is rotatably mounted on the receiving element and
projects from the receiving element to hold a camshaft wheel. The
module can be prefabricated for direct mounting on the cylinder
head. In the prefabrication process, the camshaft may be locked
against rotation by an externally accessible securing part in an
angular position for acting on valves. The securing part may extend
through a first aperture in the camshaft wheel and through or into
a receptacle of the receiving element. After mounting the module on
the cylinder head, the securing part can be removed.
Inventors: |
Schmid; Heiko (Nendeln,
LI), Schatton; Ulrich (Feldkirch, AT),
Schmidt; Hans Jurgen (Tirschenreuth, DE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ThyssenKrupp Presta TecCenter AG |
Eschen |
N/A |
LI |
|
|
Assignee: |
THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA TECCENTER
AG (Eschen, LI)
|
Family
ID: |
52807803 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/301,919 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2015 |
PCT
Filed: |
March 30, 2015 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/EP2015/056902 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
October 04, 2016 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2015/155050 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
October 15, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20170122252 A1 |
May 4, 2017 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 8, 2014 [DE] |
|
|
10 2014 104 995 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02F
7/0043 (20130101); F01L 1/053 (20130101); F01L
1/46 (20130101); F02F 1/24 (20130101); F01L
2001/028 (20130101); F01L 2303/01 (20200501); F01L
2001/0537 (20130101); F01L 2303/00 (20200501); F01L
2303/02 (20200501); F01L 2250/06 (20130101); F01L
2250/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F01L
1/02 (20060101); F02F 1/24 (20060101); F01L
1/46 (20060101); F02F 7/00 (20060101); F01L
1/053 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;123/90.16,90.27 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
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|
|
2006201682 |
|
May 2006 |
|
AU |
|
19503105 |
|
Apr 1996 |
|
DE |
|
19815270 |
|
Oct 1999 |
|
DE |
|
20120912 |
|
Jun 2002 |
|
DE |
|
20313211 |
|
Oct 2003 |
|
DE |
|
102007056608 |
|
Jun 2008 |
|
DE |
|
102008037354 |
|
Mar 2009 |
|
DE |
|
102008007091 |
|
Aug 2009 |
|
DE |
|
102009049464 |
|
Apr 2011 |
|
DE |
|
102011121860 |
|
Jun 2013 |
|
DE |
|
10 2012 206 499 |
|
Oct 2013 |
|
DE |
|
1327/CHE/2008 |
|
Nov 2009 |
|
IN |
|
2003194168 |
|
Jul 2003 |
|
JP |
|
2010-19118 |
|
Jan 2010 |
|
JP |
|
2004106716 |
|
Dec 2004 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
English language Abstract for DE 19503105 C1. cited by applicant
.
English language Abstract for DE 19815270 A1. cited by applicant
.
English language Abstract for DE 102008007091 A1. cited by
applicant .
English language Abstract for DE 102011121860A1. cited by applicant
.
Int'l Search Report for PCT/EP2015/056902 dated Jun. 4, 2015 (dated
Jun. 12, 2015). cited by applicant .
English Language Abstract for DE102007056608A1. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Newton; J. Todd
Attorney, Agent or Firm: thyssenkrupp North America,
Inc.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A module comprising: a receiving element configured as a bearing
frame or a covering hood and is sized and shaped to mount to a
cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, the receiving
element comprising a receptacle; a camshaft rotatably mounted on
the receiving element, wherein the camshaft projects out of a face
of the receiving element; a camshaft wheel fixedly mounted on the
camshaft, the camshaft wheel including a first aperture formed
therethrough and a second aperture formed therethrough; and a
securing part that is accessible when the receiving element is
mounted to the cylinder head, the securing part comprising a pin
configured to lock the camshaft against rotation in an angular
position when the pin extends through the first aperture and
through or into the receptacle of the receiving element, wherein
the securing part further includes a catch that is configured to
extend through the second aperture, engage the camshaft wheel, and
axially secure the pin in position when the catch is so
engaged.
2. The module of claim 1 wherein the camshaft wheel is a toothed
wheel or a belt wheel wherein the first aperture is configured as a
bore sized and shaped to receive the pin, wherein a sliding fit is
provided between the pin and the bore, wherein the pin extends
through the bore into the receptacle in the receiving element,
wherein the receptacle in the receiving element is configured as a
securing bore.
3. The module of claim 1 wherein the securing part is manufactured
as a one-piece plastic injection-molded part.
4. The module of claim 3 wherein the pin has an axially slotted
wall configured to limit radial flexibility.
5. The module of claim 1 wherein the catch comprises a flexible
clip leg with a latching lug, wherein the flexible clip leg engages
in the second aperture in the camshaft wheel, wherein the latching
lug engages behind an edge of the second aperture.
6. The module of claim 5 wherein the flexible clip leg is a first
flexible clip leg, the catch further comprising a second flexible
clip leg with a latching lug, with the first and second flexible
clip legs being connected via a tilt joint and closeable by a
spring force, wherein the latching lugs are disposed at one end of
the first and second flexible clip legs and form a clip head,
wherein externally accessible handles are disposed at an opposite
end of the first and second flexible clip legs, wherein pushing the
externally accessible handles together causes the clip head to
open.
7. The module of claim 1 wherein the receiving element comprises
bores for receiving the camshaft, wherein a body of the camshaft is
inserted into the bores of the receiving element via rotary
bearings in a joining process that uses thermal expansion.
8. The module of claim 1 wherein the camshaft is a first camshaft
and the securing part is a first securing part, the module further
comprising a second camshaft and a second securing part, wherein
the first and second camshafts are rotatably mounted in the
receiving element, wherein cams of the first and second camshafts
are positioned to act on two rows of valves, wherein the first and
second camshafts are locked against rotation in angular positions
by the first and second securing parts, at least before the
securing parts are removed.
9. A module comprising: a receiving element configured as a bearing
frame or a covering hood and configured to be mounted on an
internal combustion engine, the receiving element comprising a
receptacle; a camshaft rotatably mounted on the receiving element,
wherein the camshaft projects from the receiving element; a
camshaft wheel coupled to the camshaft, the camshaft wheel
including a first aperture formed therethrough and a second
aperture formed therethrough; and a securing part that remains
accessible when the receiving element is mounted on the internal
combustion engine, wherein the securing part is removable, wherein
the securing part comprises a pin configured to maintain the
camshaft in an angular position and prevent the camshaft from
rotating, wherein prior to removal the pin extends through the
first aperture of the camshaft wheel and through or into the
receptacle of the receiving element, wherein the securing part
further includes a catch that is configured to extend through the
second aperture, engage the camshaft wheel, and axially secure the
pin in position when the catch is so engaged.
10. The module of claim 9 wherein the camshaft wheel is configured
as a toothed wheel or a belt wheel.
11. The module of claim 9 wherein the catch comprises two flexible
clip legs, the two flexible clip legs each including a latching
lug.
12. The module of claim 11 wherein the securing part further
comprises two handles configured such that squeezing the two
handles towards one another causes the latching lugs of the two
flexible clip legs to separate and disengage from the camshaft
wheel.
13. A securing part for releasably maintaining a camshaft rotatably
mounted on a receiving element in an angular position, the securing
part comprising: a bridge part; a pin extending from the bridge
part; two flexible clip legs extending from the bridge part on
opposite sides of and along the pin, the two clip legs each
including a latching lug; and two handles extending from the bridge
part in a direction opposite the pin, wherein squeezing the two
handles towards one another causes the latching lugs of the two
flexible clip legs to separate.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a U.S. National Stage Entry of International
Patent Application Serial Number PCT/EP2015/056902, filed Mar. 30,
2015, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10
2014 104 995.0 filed Apr. 8, 2014, the entire contents of both of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
The present disclosure relates to camshaft modules to be mounted on
cylinder heads of internal combustion engines.
BACKGROUND
The increasing wide variety of technologies used in the drive train
of a vehicle demands of the engine manufacturers a high flexibility
in the process chain and an associated reduction in the production
costs. Therefore, development is tending toward a modularization of
the components and toward an integration of additional functions in
the components. In the course of this development there have been
designed, for example, camshaft modules in which one or two
camshafts are preassembled in a bearing frame as part of the
cylinder head or in a covering hood as a complete cylinder head.
Such prefabricated camshaft modules need only be placed on the
cylinder block when mounting the combustion engine. The only
remaining manufacturing step is the mounting of traction means, in
particular the toothed belt or the timing chain, on the camshaft
wheel.
To ensure that the timing ratio, given by the angular position,
between camshafts and crankshafts corresponds to the predetermined
degree, attention must be paid when mounting the traction means on
the camshaft wheel to the exact angular position of the cams acting
on the valves in terms of the two camshafts with respect to the
valves on the one hand and with respect to the crankshaft on the
other hand. Setting the correct angle between the rotating
components involved is time-consuming and negatively influences the
manufacturing costs.
In order, in conventional combustion engines, to be able to fix the
angular position of the camshafts for mounting, it is known from
WO2004/106716 A1 to secure a camshaft with a bolt which is guided
through the cylinder head from above and which engages through a
bore or a notch in the camshaft and is fixed in the cylinder block.
The bolt can also assume the function of a mounting aid when
assembling the engine. However, the design measures on the camshaft
are great and negatively affect the stability of the camshaft. In
addition, handling the bolt is uncomfortable insofar as the bore or
notch in the camshaft cannot be seen from outside.
DE 10 2007 056 608 A1 discloses a tool which is used only during
repairs in order to temporarily fix the position of the camshafts
that exists prior to demounting a V-belt or timing chain. This tool
engages in the teeth of the toothed wheel and is braced against the
engine block by means of a screw. However, this tool only allows a
provisional and temporary fixing of the camshafts. The engagement
of the tool in the toothed wheel functional surface can also lead
to damage or to remaining abrasion on the camshaft wheel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example covering hood for
receiving two camshafts.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example camshaft wheel with
openings.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example securing part produced
in one piece from plastic.
FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of an example securing part
mounted in an example camshaft wheel.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example module including a
covering hood and installed camshafts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Although certain example methods and apparatus have been described
herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited
thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods,
apparatus, and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the
scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine
of equivalents. Moreover, those having ordinary skill in the art
will understand that reciting `a` element or `an` element in the
appended claims does not restrict those claims to articles,
apparatuses, systems, methods, or the like having only one of that
element.
The present disclosure generally concerns a module that in some
examples may comprise a receiving element, in the form of a bearing
frame or a covering hood, for instance, for arrangement on a
cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. The module may
additionally have at least one camshaft that is rotatably mounted
in the receiving element and which, for holding a camshaft wheel,
projects out of a face side of the receiving element. Moreover, the
module may be prefabricated for direct mounting on the cylinder
head.
One example object of the present disclosure is to provide a
cost-effective module of simple design comprising a receiving
element and one or more camshafts which, within the scope of
mounting of internal combustion engines, is to be mounted in few
steps. Another example object is to reliably ensure the fixing of
the camshaft(s) in a predetermined angular position until the
mounting of a traction means on the camshaft wheel. Still another
example object of the present disclosure is to provide for simple
termination of the fixing after mounting.
It should be understood that one aspect of the present disclosure
aims to ensure particularly simple and rapid mounting for the
prefabricated module consisting of receiving element and
camshaft(s) using the securing part which engages in the camshaft
wheel. Here, the particular feature consists in the fact that the
securing part engages in the externally accessible camshaft wheel
while protecting its toothed rim and, despite a simple mechanical
design, fixes it particularly reliably with respect to the
receiving element. Consequently, the angular position of the
camshafts which is predetermined for the installation of the module
is reliably fixed.
Here, the module is prefabricated for direct mounting on the
cylinder head of a combustion engine in accordance with the claims
due to the fact that the cams of the camshaft are first situated in
the angular position for acting on the valves that is predetermined
by the correct timing ratio. In this angular position, the camshaft
is locked against rotation by the securing part which is externally
accessible for handling, wherein the securing part engages through
an aperture in the camshaft wheel and is in positive connection,
against rotation, with a receptacle provided therefor in the
receiving element, with the result that the camshaft wheel is
blocked with respect to the receiving element. After mounting the
module on the internal combustion engine, the securing part is
removed from the locking position by a simple manipulation.
Any prefabricated modules comprising a receiving element and
preassembled camshafts can be equipped with the securing part
designed in such a way. However, a very particularly suitable
application is those modules in which the camshafts have been
inserted into correspondingly coaxially arranged through-bores in
the receiving element using thermal shrinking and expansion
processes. In this joining process, the body of the camshaft is
first cooled and thus shrunk to such an extent that it can be
inserted into the through-bores via bearings. During insertion, the
cams are "threaded on" at the same time. With heating and
corresponding expansion, the body of the camshaft is pressed at the
intended locations into bearings and into the cams.
The substantial advantage of a module prefabricated and
prepositioned in such a way is that it can be directly installed in
engine assembly and that a complicated manufacturing step is saved
because of the reliable fixing of the camshafts. Here, the use of
the securing part according to the invention ensures a particularly
gentle (since it does not act on the toothed rim) and nevertheless
robust and precise fixing of the camshafts in the receiving
element. In addition, the securing part according to the invention
can be handled particularly simply during installation and during
removal.
Advantageously, the camshaft wheel, which is in particular a
toothed wheel or belt (wheel), is designed from the outset
specifically for the use of a securing part which can be handled
particularly simply. For this purpose, the disk surface of the
wheel is breached by a first aperture at least at one point
apposite to an element of the securing part that engages through,
wherein it is structurally particularly simple if this first
aperture is formed as a cylindrical bore which is penetrated by a
complementarily formed cylindrical pin of the securing part. The
pin then reaches into a further receptacle, provided in the
receiving element, in the form of a bore which at the correct
angular position is aligned with the bore in the camshaft wheel.
Here, care must be taken in each case to ensure a corresponding fit
which allows the sliding of the pin in spite of a radial positive
connection which is as strong as possible.
In addition, it is advantageous for there to be provided in the
disk surface at least one second aperture for holding the securing
part, wherein the securing part is equipped with a corresponding
holding means which interacts with the second aperture. The holding
means thus fixes the securing part mounted in the camshaft wheel
and prevents the axial displacement of the pin in the process.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the holding means is
equipped at least with a flexible clip leg on whose end there is
situated a latching lug. The clip leg engages in the second
aperture, with the latching lug engaging behind the edge of the
aperture if the holding means is in contact on the other side with
the outer surface of the camshaft wheel.
Ideally, the holding means has two clip legs which are connected
via a tilt joint and correspondingly engage in a latching manner in
two apertures. Here, --as in the case of a clothes peg--a spring
action is to be provided which closes the two clip legs. The two
ends of the clip legs that are equipped with the latching lugs thus
form a clip head and the other ends of the clip legs form
externally accessible handles. Owing to the tilt joint, pressing
together the grips brings about an opening and thus an unlocking of
the clip head.
It is particularly advantageous if the securing part, which is
equipped in particular with the pin and the two clip legs connected
resiliently via the tilt joint, are manufactured as a one-piece
plastic injection-molded part. On the one hand, such a securing
part can be produced simply and cost-effectively and can be treated
as a disposable article. Moreover, it combines low weight with high
stability. An essential advantage is that the pin can be
manufactured with a high fit accuracy and, owing to the difference
in material, can be easily inserted into the bore. With regard to
the simple sliding in the bores combined nevertheless with a high
fit accuracy, and to compensate for any manufacturing tolerances,
it is particularly advantageous to equip the walls of the pin with
axial slots which produce a limited radial flexibility.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the securing part is provided
with a tamper-evident means, for example a seal, which breaks
during first-time removal of the securing part from the locking
position and thus makes visible the manipulation. Such a
tamper-evident means makes it possible during installation of the
module to ensure that it is a module in the original state in which
the correct angular position is guaranteed.
FIG. 1 first shows, as part of a module equipped according to the
invention, a receiving element in the form of a prefabricated
covering hood 1 which is suitable for placing on a cylinder head of
an internal combustion engine. Two bores 2 are made in one face of
the covering hood 1, out of which bores there correspondingly
project two camshafts 16 (see FIG. 5) to be mounted rotatably in
the covering hood 1. A receptacle 9 in the form of a securing bore
which receives the securing part is made in the face of the
covering hood 1 above each bore 2.
FIG. 2 shows a camshaft wheel 3 equipped according to the invention
in the form of a toothed wheel as is mounted by means of a central
bore 4 on ends of the camshafts 16 that project on the face out of
the bores 2 of the covering hood 1. The module shown in FIG. 5,
consisting of the covering hood 1, the two camshafts 16 and the
camshaft wheels 3, is prefabricated for direct mounting on the
cylinder head of an internal combustion engine.
For mounting, each of the camshafts is locked against an unintended
rotation before or during mounting by an externally accessible
plastic securing part 5, illustrated in FIG. 3, in the angular
position which is correct for acting on the valves. For locking,
the securing part 5 mounted on the camshaft wheel 3 first of all
penetrates by way of a pin 6 through an aperture 7 in the form of a
through-bore made in the inner disk of the camshaft wheel 3 seated
on the camshaft 16. In the process, the pin 6 reaches through the
through-bore and by way of its tip 8 into the receptacle 9 (FIG.
1), configured as a securing bore, in the covering hood 1.
The tip 8 of the securing part 5 is in radial positive connection
with the receptacle 9 and fixes the camshaft 16 against rotation.
Here, the through-bore 7 and the receptacle 9 are dimensioned in
their diameter such that they form a sliding fit for the pin 6. The
securing part 5 is designed overall such that, after mounting the
module on the cylinder head, it can be removed from its formerly
locking position with a simple manipulation. In the present case,
the securing part 5 is completely removed and can be disposed of or
reused.
To retain the securing part 5 on the camshaft wheel 3 (see also
FIG. 4), two second apertures 10 arranged symmetrically around the
through-bore 7 are provided in the surface of the camshaft wheel 3.
A flexible clip leg 11 with which the securing part 5 is equipped
engages in each of these second apertures 10. Each clip leg 11 has
a latching lug 12 which engages behind an edge of the respective
aperture 10. The securing part 5 lies by way of a bearing surface
13 against the front edge of the aperture 10 and thus against the
surface of the camshaft wheel. The securing part 5 with the pin 6
and the two clip legs 11 is injection-molded in one piece from
plastic, with the two clip legs 11 being integrally formed on a
bridge part 14 forming the bearing surface 13 in such a way that
the connection forms a resilient tilt joint.
The spring force produced by the one-piece construction closes the
clip legs 11, with the result that the latching lugs 12 latch in
with the securing part 5 mounted. The ends of the clip legs 11 that
are equipped with the latching lugs 12 form as it were a clip head.
By contrast, the other ends of the clip legs form two externally
accessible handles 15 which, when pressed together in arrow
direction A, open the clip head (arrow B).
FIG. 5, now, shows the module with the covering hood 1 and two
camshafts 16 which are mounted therein and of which the ends
project out of an end side 17 of the covering hood 1 and carry the
camshaft wheels 3. The module is prefabricated insofar as the
camshafts 16 are secured against rotation in the predetermined
angular position by means of the securing parts 5 used. This module
can be mounted directly on the cylinder head of an internal
combustion engine.
* * * * *